AP names Derl McCrudden head of international video news

Derl McCrudden stands in the Associated Press newsroom in London, Wednesday, July 23, 2014. McCrudden, head of video newsgathering for The Associated Press, has been promoted to head of international video news. The appointment was announced Thursday, July 24, 2014 by Sandy MacIntyre, AP vice president and director of global video. McCrudden, 43, will continue to be based at AP’s global video headquarters in London as he oversees AP's international video operations. (AP Photo/Tony Hicks) (The Associated Press)

NEW YORK – Derl McCrudden, head of video newsgathering for The Associated Press, has been promoted to head of international video news.

The appointment was announced Thursday by Sandy MacIntyre, AP vice president and director of global video.

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McCrudden, 43, will continue to be based at AP's global video headquarters in London as he oversees AP's international video operations.

"Derl is one of the smartest journalists in the business, a proven leader whose calm demeanor and steely determination mark him out as a natural for this role," MacIntyre said. "Derl brings a vast amount of experience, both in managerial roles and in running big stories in the field. That experience directly translates into not only understanding, but anticipating the needs of AP's customers."

For the past 20 years, McCrudden has helped lead coverage of some of the world's biggest news events, including the war in Syria, the election of President Obama in 2008 and the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

He joined AP in 2010 from ITN Consulting, and before that was on the launch team of Al Jazeera English, where he went on to run the channel's Asia operation. He worked in U.K. network news for ITN for 11 years.

AP also announced other video leadership changes on Thursday:

— Denise Vance, deputy director of U.S. video, will become head of U.S. video and radio, continuing to oversee video and audio newsgathering and production in North America.

— Vaughn Morrison, a former CNN and Fox executive, was recently named to be head of U.S. video production.

— Debora Gorbutt, head of video content development, will also take on oversight of AP Middle East Extra, a new video service offering unique video content centered on the news that matters most to that region.

"AP's video customers are going to be immensely well-served by these changes," MacIntyre said. "This editorial leadership team combines decades of knowledge of the needs of broadcasters and digital players with a passion to win on accuracy, speed and innovation."